Collapsible container

ABSTRACT

A collapsible container comprising a plurality of panels detacheably joined along their edges by a series of locking device inserted through aligned apertures through two edges, each of said edges being bent outwardly from the respective panels in such a manner that the edges lie flush against each other.

' whites; tates Patent Repetti Nov. 4, 1975 COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER 2,317,561 4/1943 Tinnerman 220/75 217 43 [75] Inventor: Renato Repetti, Forte del Marmi, 31323 2201/5 Italy 3,570,801 3/1971 Moritz 220/4 F [73] Assignee: Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.p.A., Ivrea 3,572,535 3/1971 Klnzle 220/4 F (Turin), Italy [22] Filed: Oct. 31, 1973 Primary Examiner-William I. Price Assistant ExaminerJoseph M. Moy [21] Appl 411528 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-I. J. Schaefer [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 10, 1972 Italy 70534/72 57 ABSTRACT U.S- Cl. A collapsible container comprising a plurality of p els detacheably joined along their edges by a series of [5 (:1. lockin device inserted through ed apertures 58 Fld fSe h 220/75 76 834R 4F g gn 1 o are through two edges, each of said edges being bent out- 220/7 217/43 12 13 wardly from the respective panels in such a manner d l' t h References Cited that the e ges 1e flush agalns eac other 2,182,201 12/1939 Harris 220/75 US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 '1 COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to collapsible containers which are particularly suited for use as waste-paper baskets and other office receptacles. Such containers are commonly made from panels permanently joined along their edges, by mortise joints for example. The containers are, therefore, expensive to construct and bulky to transport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of this invention is to provide an improved collapsible container of simple construction. I 1

According to the present invention, there is provided a collapsible container comprising a plurality of panels detachably joined along their edges, wherein each two adjoining edges of two panels are bent outwardly from the respective panels in such a manner that the edges lie flush against each other, the two edges being held against each other by at least one releasable locking device inserted through aligned apertures through the two edges.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a container embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view on a larger scale of a part of the container in FIG. 1, looking into a pair of edges;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the part in FIG. 2 taken on the line IIIIII; and

FIG. 4 is a partial section of the container in FIG. 1 taken on the line IV-IV in FIG. 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The container embodying the invention is designed on a modular basis. In particular, the container is formed from panels which are, for preference, rectangular with their sides conforming to a given module. From a limited number of types of panel it is thus possible to make cube-shaped or parallelepiped baskets for files, umbrella stands, flower containers, bases for ashtrays, etc.

A basket of parallelepiped shape shown in FIG. 1 consists of four side panels 11, which are rectangular and equal in size to one another and a square base panel 12, each of which panels may be in sheet metal or in plastics material. Each panel 11 and 12 is provided with a bend near to each margin and parallel to the margin to form a corresponding edge 13, bent at an angle of 45 to the panel itself. Each edge 13 of each panel 11 and 12 is provided with a series of identical elongated apertures 14, basically of the shape of a buttonhole circular opening 15. The apertures 14 are set out parallel along the edge 13 to which they belong and are situated so that when two edges 13 of two panels are placed together, each aperture in one edge is aligned exactly with an aperture in the other edge.

To make the basket 10, the panels 11 and 12 are joined together so that each 13 of one panel lies flush against another edge 13 of an adjacent panel and is fastened to it by means of small clips 16, each of which acts as a locking device attached to a pair of corresponding apertures 14. Each clip 16 (FIG. 2) consists of two identical wings 17 which are basically flat and are placed symmetrically at the end of a pin 18 with which they form an integral part. As may be clearly seen in FIG. 3, the clips 16 are, in section, of a shape identical to that of the apertures. Furthermore, the dimensions in section of the clips 16 are slightly smaller than the corresponding dimensions of the aperture 14. The clip 16 may be produced either in'plastics material or in metal. The wings 17 (FIG. 2) consist of a pair of parallel clamping surfaces 20 which are separated by a distance equal to double the thickness of the panels 11 and 12 and two protuberances 21 which, in relation to the pin 18 are placed on the part opposite to the surfaces 20.

To form a basket 10 (FIG. 1), it is necessary to join the various panels together. The operator places together the edges 13 of two panels 11 which are to be joined, so that the panels form a right-angle and each aperture in one edge lines up with an aperture in the other edge.

To join up the two edges, the operator takes hold of a clip 16 by one of the wings 17 (FIGS. 2 and 3) and with this wing placed parallel to the aperture 14 inserts the clip 16 into the two apertures 14, slipping the pin 18 through the opening 15 until the surfaces 20 are level with the surfaces of the edges 13, but not yet in contact therewith.

The operator then turns the clip 16 (FIG. 4) in the direction of turning the protuberances 21 towards the interior of the basket.

The positions of the apertures 14 and the distance between the protuberances 21 of the clips 16 are such that, before the rotation of 90 is completed, the protuberances touch the external surfaces of the two panels 11. In order to complete the rotation of 90, the operator applies a certain torque to the clip 16 so that the protuberances 21 are splayed apart, bowing the pin. The pin tends to bend in a direction which causes the surfaces 20 to come together and consequently to clamp the two edges 13 firmly together.

It should be noted that the clamping pressure exercised by each clip 16 is produced by the fact that the two panels 11 act on the protuberances 21 of the clip 16 during the rotation in the same way as a wedge. Since the protuberances 21 form the lever arms for the bending of the pin 18, their length in relation to that of the surfaces 20 may be such that the effort required from the operator to carry out the tightening operation is not large. The operator inserts the other clips 16 in the pairs of apertures of the panels in the manner described and then assembles all the panels until the basket 10 is complete.

As it will be easily appreciated, the operation of assembling a basket can be carried out by a single operator quickly and with the minimum effort.

Naturally, the panels for containers as described above may be subject to various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, certain panels may be of a trapezoidal shape in which case the edges 13 will form a dihedral angle with the panel which is slightly different from 45. Such panels can be used to form tapering containers.

What I claim is:

l. A collapsible container comprising:

a plurality of panels each having a central planar portion and peripheral planar portions disposed at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the central planer portion, each peripheral portion of each panel positionable in a juxtaposed relationship with one peripheral portion of another panel when the panels are in an assembled state; and

locking means for releasably locking the juxtaposed peripheral portions of the panels together to maintain the panels in an assembled state, said locking means comprising means defining at least one elongated aperture in each peripheral portion of the panels each aperture elongated along an axis parallel to the vertex of the angle between the central planar portion and the peripheral portion and positioned to be aligned with the corresponding aperture of a juxtaposed peripheral portion of another panel and locking members each removably insertable through two aligned apertures and each comprising a pin member and two wing members each having a clamping surface, the two wing members connected at either end of said pin member to space the clamping surfaces apart a distance substantially equal to the thickness of two juxtaposed peripheral portions and wherein each locking member when inserted in two aligned apertures is rotatable about the pin member from an unlocking position to a locking position wherein the clamping surfaces inwardly bear against the juxtaposed peripheral portions locking them together.

2. A collapsible container according to claim 1, wherein the wing members are spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness of two juxtaposed peripheral portions and wherein said locking means further comprises means urging the clamping surfaces of each locking member together .whenrotated into the locking po-. sition and for retaining the locking member in the lock ing position.

3. A collapsible container according to claim 2, wherein said pin member comprises resilient material and wherein said urging and retaining means comprises a protuberance on each wing member spaced a predetermined distance apart and from the associated clam ping surface to contact the central planar portion before the clamping surface contacts. the peripheral portions during movement of the locking member from the unlocking to the locking portionto cause the clamping surfaces to be urged together about the pin member.

4. A collapsible container according to claim 1,

wherein said locking means further comprises means for preventing relative movement of the juxtaposed peripheral portions in the plane of the juxtaposed peripheral portions.

5. A collapsible container according to claim 4, wherein said means for preventing relative movement comprises a central substantially cylindrical hole in each aperture having a diameter greater than the width of the aperture and wherein said pin member is sub-. stantially cylindrical and-has a diameter greater than the width of the aperture and less than the diameter of the hole.

6. A collapsible container according to claim 1, wherein the angle of rotation from the unlocking to the locking position is approximately 7. A collapsible container according to claim 1, wherein the two wing elements of each locking member are substantially flat and coplanar. 1: 

1. A collapsible container comprising: a plurality of panels each having a central planar portion and peripheral planar portions disposed at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the central planer portion, each peripheral portion of each panel positionable in a juxtaposed relationship with one peripheral portion of another panel when the panels are in an assembled state; and locking means for releasably locking the juxtaposed peripheral portions of the panels together to maintain the panels in an assembled state, said locking means comprising means defining at least one elongated aperture in each peripheral portion of the panels each aperture elongated along an axis parallel to the vertex of the angle between the central planar portion and the peripheral portion and positioned to be aligned with the corresponding aperture of a juxtaposed peripheral portion of another panel and locking members each removably insertable through two aligned apertures and each comprising a pin member and two wing members each having a clamping surface, the two wing members connected at either end of said pin member to space the clamping surfaces apart a distance substantially equal to the thickness of two juxtaposed peripheral portions and wherein each locking member when inserted in two aligned apertures is rotatable about the pin member from an unlocking position to a locking position wherein the clamping surfaces inwardly bear against the juxtaposed peripheral portions locking them together.
 2. A collapsible container according to claim 1, wherein the wing members are spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness of two juxtaposed peripheral portions and wherein said locking means further comprises means urging the clamping surfaces of each locking member together when rotated into the locking position and for retaining the locking member in the locking position.
 3. A collapsible container according to claim 2, wherein said pin member comprises resilient material and wherein said urging and retaining means comprises a protuberance on each wing member spaced a predetermined distance apart and from the associated clamping surface to contact the central planar portion before the clamping surface contacts the peripheral portions during movement of the locking member from the unlocking to the locking portion to cause the clamping surfaces to be urged together about the pin member.
 4. A collapsible container according to claim 1, wherein said locking means further comprises means for preventing relative movement of the juxtaposed peripheral portions in the plane of the juxtaposed peripheral portions.
 5. A collapsible container according to claim 4, wherein said means for preventing relative movement comprises a central substantially cylindrical hole in each aperture having a diameter greater than the width of the aperture and wherein said pin member is substantially cylindrical and has a diameter greater than the width of the aperture and less than the diameter of the hole.
 6. A collapsible container according to claim 1, wherein the angle of rotation from the unlocking to the locking position is approximately 90*.
 7. A collapsible container according to claim 1, wherein the two wing elements of each locking member are substantially flat and coplanar. 